NEW Multicultural Children’s & YA Books August 2022

Colours of Us

2 years ago

NEW Multicultural Children's & YA Books August 2022

The end of summer brings us some wonderful new multicultural children’s & YA books! Our favourites this month are Ours (Babies & Toddlers), Lola Out Loud (Preschool), Just Like Jesse Owens (Elementary School), Tumble (Middle School), and How You Grow Things (High School). Enjoy browsing!

NEW Multicultural Children’s & YA Books August 2022

Babies & Toddlers

Shady Baby Feels: A First Book of Emotions
by G. Union & D. Wade

Shady Baby is baking cupcakes, and she has some feelings about the process. From excitement to boredom, Shady Baby Feels: A First Book of Emotions introduces nine common emotions. Perfect for the youngest of readers, this book will inspire kids to discuss their multitude of feelings in a kid-friendly, accessible format. ~ African – Babies & Toddlers

This Is Music: Drums
by Rekha S. Rajan

What do a set of bongos, a tambourine, and a cooking pot have in common? They are all drums! This Is Music: Drums is a first introduction to instruments in the drum family beginning with a simple explanation of what defines a drum. The littlest readers are then invited on a global exploration of a variety of percussive instruments and are encouraged to find drums of their own in the world around them. ~ Diverse – Babies & Toddlers

Ours
by Ruth Forman

“I love mine / she loves hers / he loves his / I love theirs.” From the bestselling author of Curls, Glow, and Bloom comes a board book that joyfully celebrates skin tone self-love with a mirror for little ones. With rhyming text and expressive illustrations, Ours shows young readers how to see themselves and others with confidence and love. ~ Diverse – Babies & Toddlers

Preschool

Let Your Light Shine
by Keb’ Mo’

From GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Keb’ Mo’ comes Let Your light Shine, a sweet picture that brings the inspirational lyrics from one of Keb’ Mo’s most inspiring songs to life. Featuring a young Keb’, this beautiful book encourages readers to keep shining through their darkest days and to show love wherever they go. ~ African – Preschool

Abuelita and I Make Flan
by Adriana Hernández Bergstrom

Anita is making flan for Abuelo’s birthday, but when she accidentally breaks Abuelita’s treasured flan serving plate from Cuba, she struggles with what to do. Anita knows it’s right to tell the truth, but what if Abuelita gets upset? Worried that she has already ruined the day, Anita tries to be the best helper. After cooking the flan, they need a serving dish! Anita comes up with a wonderful solution. Complete with a glossary of Spanish terms and a traditional recipe for flan, Abuelita and I Make Flan is a delicious celebration of food, culture, and family. ~ Hispanic – Preschool

Barack Obama: A Little Golden Book Biography
by Frank Berrios

Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about President Barack Obama! The perfect introduction to nonfiction for preschoolers! This Little Golden Book about the 44th President of the United States and the country’s first Black president is an inspiring read-aloud for young girls and boys. ~ African – Preschool

Lola Out Loud: Inspired by the Childhood of Activist Dolores Huerta
by Jennifer Torres

Her grandpa calls her “Lolita Siete Lenguas”—Little Lola, Seven Tongues, all fighting to be heard. Lola is trying not to make so much noise, but when she witnesses injustices in her own neighborhood, she knows she can’t keep quiet. Can Lola find a way to use her voice for change? ¡Sí, se puede! Inspired by the real-life civil rights activist and labor leader Dolores Huerta, Lola Out Loud is a warm and rollicking picture book that reminds us that sometimes one strong voice is just what we need. ~ Hispanic – Preschool

Black Boy, Black Boy
by A. Kamanda & J. Redmond

“Dear boy, Black boy, I believe in you so. / Let’s start your story―ready, set, go.” From athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick to musician Sam Cooke, inventor Elijah McCoy and writer Chinua Achebe, there are so many inspirational men in Black history. With lyrical text, Black Boy, Black Boy encourages boys to imagine everything they can be and the great things they can do, drawing on the strength of people throughout history that paved the way for Black boys today. ~ African – Preschool

Braver Than Brave
by Janet Sumner Johnson

Wanda desperately wants to be brave like her big brother Zane, but it’s not easy. When the Coaster of Doom opens at the local amusement park, Wanda is determined to show her brave. With all eyes on her, Wanda must find the confidence to be her own kind of Brave. Mixing humour with themes of self-awareness and responsible decision making, Braver Than Brave shows the importance of thinking for yourself, being confident in your own beliefs, and accepting differences in others. Everyone has their own kind of brave, and that’s totally okay. ~ African – Preschool

A Planet Like Ours
by F. Murphy & C. Gordon

Our planet Earth is as individual and special as each one of us. It’s ability to sustain and nurture life is unique in our solar system–and beyond. Gorgeously illustrated A Planet Like Ours celebrates all the wonderful qualities of our Earth and teaches young children how to protect our planet for future generations. After all, “If not us, then who?” ~ Diverse – Preschool

To Change a Planet
by C. Soontornvat & R. Jomepour Bell

“One person. / Small, quiet, insignificant. / But when one person, / and one person, / and one person / become many, /they can change a planet.” With spare, poetic text and stunning illustrations, To Change A Planet takes readers on a stirring journey that gently illuminates the causes of climate change as well as how our individual and collective actions can make the world better. Clear endnotes vetted by a climate expert answer questions in simple language. Meticulously researched and brimming with hope and hands-on solutions, this book is vital for every family and classroom. ~ Diverse – Preschool

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story
by D. Greendeer & A. Perry

Two kids from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learn the story of Weeâchumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving. Most Thanksgiving stories celebrate the Pilgrims. But without the Wampanoag tribe who already lived on the land where the Pilgrims settled, the Pilgrims would never have made it through their first winter. And without Weeâchumun, the Native people wouldn’t have helped. Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story honours the history of the first Thanksgiving. ~ Diverse – Preschool

Hair to Share
by Sylvia Walker

Suri was born with more hair than anyone had ever seen on a baby. As she grew, so did her hair until it eventually reached all the way down to her knees! When she makes a new friend who has no hair, Suri wants to find a way to help her feel comfortable and confident. Hair To Share is a joyful exploration of friendship, generosity, and confidence that comes from within. Includes backmatter about medical hair loss. ~ African – Preschool

Khloe’s Beautiful Blues
by La’Ketta Caldwell

“Your Skin is unique. / Your Skin radiates. / Your Skin is sun-kissed. / Your Skin is wonderous.” Khloe’s Beautiful Blues reminds us that everybody and every hue is beautiful. The picture book is a poetic story dedicated to the beautiful skin of girls and women kissed by the sun. ~ African – Preschool

Elementary School

Be a Bridge
by I. Latham & C. Waters

With rhyming verse and cheerful illustrations of a diverse group of students, Be A Bridge shows different ways in which readers can “be a bridge,” from welcoming a new student and listening respectfully when someone else is talking to standing up to a bully and comforting a classmate who is upset. Scan a Page Plus QR code at the end of the book to download a Bridge Builder Pledge. An ideal book to share with students now to set the tone for the whole school year! ~ Diverse – Elementary School

Sam’s Super Seats
by Keah Brown

Sam loves herself, learning, and making her family and friends laugh. She also loves comfortable seats, including a graceful couch named after Misty Copeland and Laney, the sassy backseat of Mom’s car. Sam and her friends go back-to-school shopping and imagine what the new school year might bring. It’s not until Sam feels tired, and the new seat she meets isn’t so super, that she discovers what might be her best idea all day. With charming text and exuberant illustrations, Sam’s Super Seats is a joyful picture book about a girl with cerebral palsy. ~ African – Elementary School

Judge Kim: The Case of the Missing Bicycle
by M. Stone & S. MartinBrough

When bicycles go missing at Fairville Elementary School, it’s up to Kim Webster to settle the case. Up in her treehouse court, Judge Kim listens to witnesses and evidence gathered by her friends before determining what’s fair and what’s not. Will Judge Kim be able to restore peace to her neighborhood? Part of the Ready-to-Read Graphics series, Judge Kim gives readers the perfect introduction to the graphic novel format with easy-to-follow panels, speech bubbles with accessible vocabulary, and sequential storytelling. Includes a how-to guide for reading graphic novels. ~ African – Elementary School

Just Like Jesse Owens
by A. Young & P. Young Shelton

As a boy, civil rights icon Andrew Young learned a vital lesson from his parents when a local chapter of the Nazi party instigated racial unrest in their hometown of New Orleans in the 1930s. While Hitler’s teachings promoted White supremacy, Andrew’s father told him that when dealing with the sickness of racism, “Don’t get mad, get smart.” To drive home this idea, Andrew Young Senior took his family to the local movie house to see a newsreel of track star Jesse Owens racing toward Olympic gold, showing the world that the best way to promote equality is to focus on the finish line. Just Like Jesse Owens delivers a powerful story about a special day in Andrew’s childhood that changed him forever. ~ African – Elementary School

Say Their Names
by Caroline Brewer

Aliya, a seven-year-old Black girl, sees on TV news the public reaction to recent and tragic events. Determined to make sure the lives of those lost matter, she leads her own protest march that extends beyond her living room and into her neighborhood to “say their names” and loudly proclaim “good people come in all colours.” Say Their Names is a timely picture book that addresses racism and police brutality in an age-appropriate manner. ~ African – Elementary School

Stacey Abrams and the Fight to Vote
by Traci N. Todd

“Sometimes she would light the way. Sometimes her way would be lit by others…” Stacey Abrams was always destined for big things, because she always imagined more. Now she protects the least powerful and works toward making voting fair and easy. Stacey Abrams’s determination, perseverance, and courage will inspire young readers to make meaningful change in the world. With lyrical text and stunning illustrations, Stacey Abrams and the Fight to Vote encourages conversation at home and the classroom about Black women and voting. ~ African – Elementary School

Future Hero (Future Hero, 1)
by Remi Blackwood

Jarell has never quite known where he belongs. He’s ignored at home and teased at school for wanting to draw instead of playing sports with the other boys. The only place he’s ever felt truly at ease is his local barbershop where the owner hangs Jarell’s art up on the walls. When Jarell discovers a hidden portal in the barbershop, he’s transported to a magical world that’s unlike anything he’s seen before. But it’s not just the powerful gods and dangerous creatures that makes this world different―it’s that everyone believes Jarell is the hero they’ve been waiting for. Future Hero is the start of a thrilling, highly illustrated series for younger fans of Black Panther and Last Gate of the Emperor. ~ African – Elementary School

Stand Up! 10 Mighty Women Who Made A Change
by Brittney Cooper

Stand Up! tells the story of ten historic female figures who changed the world by standing up for what’s right, including legendary Civil Rights activists like Ruby Bridges and Rosa Parks and spanning to contemporary role models like Bree Newsome, who removed the confederate flag from the South Carolina state house grounds, and Mari Copeny, a youth activist who fought for clean water in Flint, Michigan. This inspirational biographical collection depicts both famous and unsung Black women who took a stand and made the world a better place for future generations. ~ African – Elementary School

Kamala Harris // Amanda Gorman
by Jehan Jones-Radgowski

How much do you know about Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman? Discover more about America’s first female, Black, and Asian vice president and the impressive young poet, from their early lives, their accomplishments and the challenges they overcame. Great for classroom use! ~ African – Elementary School

Middle School

Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day
by Kelly J. Baptist

Things are looking up for super kid Isaiah Dunn. He and his little sister, Charlie, are getting used to staying with Miz Rita, and Mama’s feeling better. Isaiah’s poetry business with Angel is taking off, and his best friend, Sneaky, always has a new hustle. Plus, Isaiah has his dad’s journals for a story or if he needs advice…. Like maybe now, because starting middle school is hard. Especially when his mentee Kobe won’t stop making trouble. Isaiah knows something is up, but to get to the bottom of Kobe’s secret, he’ll have to rely on every hero he knows–including himself! Isaiah Dunn Saves The Day is the heartfelt and humorous sequel to the award-winning novel Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero. ~ African – Middle School

A Taste of Magic
by J. Elle

Kyana Turner has just found out that she’s a witch. This means mandatory lessons every Saturday at Park Row Magick Academy, the magic school hidden in the back of her local beauty shop. Learning spells, discovering charms and potion recipes, and getting a wand made to match her hair’s curl pattern, Kyana feels like she’s a part of something really special. But when the school loses funding, the students must either pay a hefty tuition at the academy across town or have their magic stripped . . . permanently. Determined not to let that happen, Kyana comes up with a plan to win a huge cash prize in a baking competition. But as Kyana struggles to keep up with magic and regular school, prepare for the competition, and keep her magic secret, she wonders if it’s possible to save her friendships, too. A Taste of Magic is an enchanting debut middle grade fantasy full of humour, heart, and mouthwatering desserts. ~ African – Middle School

Alliana, Girl of Dragons
by Julie Abe

Alliana was sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Those dreams disappeared when her grandmother passed away. Now Alliana is forced by her wicked stepmother to clean her stepfamily’s inn until her skin burns raw and to stay up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. But then she meets two beings who change her life forever—a young night dragon and Nela, a young witch. Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance for a new life—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Alliana, Girl of Dragons is an enchanting fairy tale retelling of the Japanese Cinderella. ~ Asian – Middle School

Tumble
by Celia C. Perez

Twelve-year-old Adela “Addie” Ramírez is feeling overwhelmed: Her stepfather has proposed adoption, her new half brother is due soon, a big school theater performance is coming up, and she finds a photo of a young man hidden away in her mother’s things. Addie’s sleuthing takes her to a New Mexico ranch where she finds the legendary Bravos: Rosie and Pancho, her paternal grandparents and former professional wrestlers; Eva and Maggie, her older identical twin cousins who love to spar in and out of the ring; Uncle Mateo, whose lucha couture and advice are unmatched; and Manny, her biological father, who’s in the midst of a career comeback. As luchadores, the Bravos’s legacy is strong. But being part of a family is so much harder—it’s about showing up, taking off your mask, and working through challenges together. Tumble is a dazzling novel about a young girl who collects the missing pieces of her origin story from her family of legendary luchadores. ~ Hispanic – Middle School

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, The Graphic Novel
by Kwame Mbalia

Tristan Strong is devastated that he failed to save his best friend. All he has left of Eddie is his journal. Tristan is sent to his grandparents’ farm in Alabama to heal from the tragedy. On his first night there, a sticky creature steals Eddie’s notebook and a tug-of-war ensues underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the volatile MidPass. He finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left two Black American folk heroes exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and his new allies need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi comes at a price. Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky is a stunning graphic novel adaptation of the best-selling book. ~ African – Middle School

Honest June: The Show Must Go On
by Tina Wells

June has a hard time telling the truth when it isn’t what people want to hear. But she’s trying to be honest with herself, and auditioning for the school musical is a step in the right direction! It’s what she wants — even if her parents have other ideas. But the drama is brewing offstage, too, and on the night of the play, June’s secret blog is released to the whole school. ALL of the inner secrets that she’s been desperate to keep to herself are unleashed! Will her friends and family forgive her for the lies? Or is her carefully-constructed life going to come crashing down? Honest June is a relatable and magical new series that tween readers won’t want to miss. ~ African – Middle School

Amari and the Great Game
by B.B. Alston

After finding her brother and saving the entire supernatural world, Amari Peters is convinced her first full summer as a Junior Agent will be a breeze. But between the fearsome new Head Minister’s strict anti-magician agenda, fierce Junior Agent rivalries, and her brother Quinton’s curse steadily worsening, Amari’s plate is full. So when the secretive League of Magicians offers her a chance to stand up for magiciankind as its new leader, she declines. She’s got enough to worry about! But her refusal allows someone else to step forward, a magician with dangerous plans for the League. This challenge sparks the start of the Great Game, a competition to decide who will become the Night Brothers’ successor and determine the future of magiciankind. Amari an the Great Game is the sequel to bestselling Amari and the Night Brothers. ~ African – Middle School

Gaby’s Latin American Kitchen: 70 Kid-Tested and Kid-Approved Recipes for Young Chefs
by Gaby Melian

¡En sus marcas, listos… fuera! Ready, set, cook! Travel the world of Latin America with 70 kid-approved recipes developed and written by celebrity chef Gaby Melian. Kids can cook from desayuno (breakfast) to cena (dinner), merienda (snacks) and postre (dessert). A Spanish glossary, fun personal stories, and a peek into Gaby’s own kitchen make Gaby’s Latin American Kitchen a delicious book for all young chefs and their families. ~Hispanic – Middle School

High School

A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic
by Debbie Rigaud

Cicely Destin lives for the West Indian Day Parade, the joyous celebration of Caribbean culture that takes over the streets of her neighbourhood. This year she’ll get to hang with her stylish aunt, an influencer known for dabbling in Haitian Vodou. And maybe spot her dreamy crush, Kwame, in the crowd. But fate has other ideas. Before the parade, a rogue, mischievous spirit seems to take possession of Cicely’s aunt during a spiritual reading. Cicely hardly knows anything about Vodou, or how to get someone un-possessed. But it’s up to her to set things right–and the clock is ticking. Along the way, will Cicely discover surprising powers of her on? Perfect for fans of The Sun Is Also a Star and Blackout, A Girl’s Guide To Love & Magic is a celebration of Haitian and Caribbean culture, and a story of first love, vodou, and finding yourself. ~ African – High School

I Rise
by Marie Arnold

Ayo’s mother founded ‘See Us’, a civil rights movement that tackles police brutality and racial profiling in Harlem. Ayo has spent her entire life being an activist and now, she wants out. She wants to get her first real kiss, have a boyfriend, and just be a normal teen. When her mom is put into a coma after a riot breaks out between protesters and police, protestors want Ayo to become the face of ‘See Us’ and fight for justice for her mother who can no longer fight for herself. While she deals with her grief and anger, Ayo must also discover if she has the strength to take over where her mother left off. I Rise is an impactful novel about inequality, systemic racism, police violence, and social justice. ~ African – High School

What’s Coming to Me
by Francesca Padilla

In the seaside town of Nautilus, 17-year-old Minerva Gutiérrez absolutely hates her job at the local ice cream stand, where her sexist boss makes each day worse than the last. But she needs the money: kicked out of school and stranded by her mom’s most recent hospitalization, she dreams of escaping her dead-end hometown. When an armed robbery at the ice cream stand stirs up rumors about money hidden on the property, Min teams up with her neighbour CeCe, also desperate for cash, to find it. The bonus? Getting revenge on her boss in the process. What’s Coming To Me is an equally poignant and thrilling novel about grief, anger, and fighting for what you deserve. ~ Hispanic – High School

How You Grow Wings
by Rimma Onoseta

Nigerian Sisters Cheta and Zam couldn’t be more different. Cheta, sharp-tongued and stubborn, never shies away from conflict—either at school or at home, where her mother fires abuse at her. Timid Zam escapes most of her mother’s anger, skating under the radar and avoiding her sister whenever possible. In a turn of good fortune, Zam is invited to live with her aunt’s family in the lap of luxury. Jealous, Cheta also leaves home, but to a harder existence that will drive her to terrible decisions. When the sisters are reunited, Zam alone will recognize just how far Cheta has fallen—and Cheta’s fate will rest in Zam’s hands. How You Grow Wings deftly explores classism, colorism, cycles of abuse, and the messy truths that sometimes, family is not a source of comfort, and that morality is all shades of grey. ~ African – High School

Blood Like Fate (Blood Like Magic)
by Liselle Sambury

The cost for becoming a full-fledged with was higher than Voya Thomas had imagined. Her grandmother is gone, her cousin hates her, and her family doesn’t believe that she has what it takes to lead them. What’s more, Voya can’t let go of her feelings for Luc, sponsor son of the genius billionaire Justin Tremblay—the man that Luc believes Voya killed. Luc wants nothing to do with her. Even her own ancestors seem to have lost faith in her. Every day Voya begs for their guidance, but her calls go unanswered. As Voya struggles to convince everyone that she can be a good Matriarch, she has a vision of a terrifying, deadly future. A vision that would spell the end of the Toronto witches. Voya must do whatever it takes to bring her shattered community together and stop what’s coming for them before it’s too late. Blood Like Fate is the spellbinding sequel to Blood Like Magic, perfect for fans of Legendborn and Cemetery Boys. ~ African – High School

The Undead Truth of Us
by Britney S. Lewis

16-year-old Zharie Young thinks her mother morphed into a zombie before her untimely death, but she can’t seem to figure out why. Why her mother died, why her aunt doesn’t want her around, why all her dreams seem suddenly, hopelessly out of reach. And why, ever since that day, she’s been seeing zombies everywhere. Then tall, charming Bo moves into her apartment building, Z wants nothing to do with him. But when he transforms into a half zombie right before her eyes, something feels different. He contradicts everything she thought she knew about monsters, and she can’t help but wonder if getting to know him might unlock the answers to her mother’s death. The Undead Truth of Us is a surrealist novel that explores love, zombies, and everything in between in an intoxicating amalgam of the real and the fantastic. ~ African – High School

Seton Girls
by Charlene Thomas

Seton Academic High is obsessed with its football team and their 13-year conference win streak, a record that players always say they’d never have without Seton’s girls. What exactly Seton girls do to make them so valuable, though, no one ever really says. They’re just “the best.” But the team’s quarterback, the younger brother of the Seton star who started the streak, wants more than regular season glory. He wants a state championship before his successor, Seton’s first Black QB, has a chance to overshadow him. Bigger rewards require bigger risks, and soon the actual secrets to the team’s enduring success leak to a small group of girls who suddenly have the power to change their world forever. Seton Girls is a smart and twisty debut novel that starts off like Friday Night Lights and ends with the power and insight of Dear White People. ~ African – High School